Thomas dated Maritza for two years and then proposed, but not before asking Guillermo for Maritzas hand in marriage. And Im right in front of my defense. Lastly, I want to thank the Dolphins fans. Hes the man. Urlacher was a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee in the class of 2018. Zach and Maritza were engaged the bye week of the 2005 season on a St. Maarten beach with shooting stars as the audience. The games been too good to me.. The somber thoughts often drifted into Jason Taylor's mind as he friend and brother-in-law Zach Thomas. We look forward to celebrating with him in Canton.. And I said all these compliments about Kevin but I also said we have a nickname for him. Ninety-Nine Yards launched in 2018 and covers all aspects of the American football. They're just delaying inevitable. Thomas says he came to love Sabans ability to prepare the Dolphins. So he did give me a 1-on-1 but they wouldnt allow me to meet with [reporters] at the facility. As great as he was on the field, he is even better as a family man and a role model. He pretty much told me, next time a coach is coaching you, you shut the [expletive] up. I teach my kids to be grateful for everything they do and get. Start with the time Nick Saban wanted to trade Zach Thomas. Theyre the Patriots.. Couldnt believe it.. Coupled with the 2008 season spent with Dallas, Thomas finished his career with 1,734 tackles (74 for loss) and 20.5 sacks. I went to the sideline, but I couldnt sit down because I was falling asleep on the bench, Thomas says. And then in college, I was two-time All-American and then I go, the 154th pick. To have played at Texas Tech and then be drafted by the Dolphins was the ultimate. It can also be about direct comparison. I was trying to get the call, Thomas says. They brought me in and I had a 1-on-1 talk with Bill, Thomas says. Zach Thomas is a 49 year old American Football (American) Player. Thats humbling. My first year with the Jets before my first game we played against each other, (Coach) Bill Parcells told me in front of my entire team, If you dont block Thomas, we wont win the game, and for the next 16 matchups I never forgot that. But as agent Drew Rosenhaus predicted to Thomas, if Belichick made him an offer, others would follow suit. Zachs accomplishments on the field made him one of the greatest players in NFL history. Im like, Yes, sir. . Wed go play other schools and our best dude (Zach) was better than their best dude by a lot and thats when we started to realize there was just something different about him, said Koby Abney, Thomas And if it wasnt a lead draw, Id have been in trouble, but I hit it and made the tackle. I felt bad for a while because I thought that was a reason he didnt sign with us at the time, Thomas says, But Kevin told me the Dolphins didnt offer him a contract, and thats the reason he didnt sign.. Then on the turnpike ride home, with Maritza driving, the couple was rear-ended. So now Im in his head. It was a joy to watch him play the game. Well he has 22 interceptions to his name whilst Zach has 17. Its a blessing that he can do that.. Hes covered Dolphins games in London, Berlin, Mexico City and Tokyo. In 2005 Urlacher won the Defensive Player of the Year award. The battles were epic. Thomas signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys in 2008 and owner Jerry Jones asked him to sign for another year when that season ended, but Thomas told him he needed to get back to a system he felt more familiar playing. In 182 games Urlacher had 1,046 solo tackles (5.74 per game). This is when Maritza and I were still dating and shes like, Were moving to Green Bay? And it didnt go through. Thomas was inducted in 2012 into the Dolphin Honor Roll along with Jason Taylor, the other half of the Dolphins' But it was all love.. Its all about perception play on a successful team (the Bears were 126-98 & went to a Superbowl during Urlachers career), and you get the recognition. Thomas, you see, kept notes that eventually grew into entire notebooks on teams and offensive coordinators. But the odds of being in the conversation of the all-time greats has got to be super high. During his career he was often compared to Brian Urlacher as their time in the NFL overlapped. He wanted to rip into somebody. Now hes a big Dolphins fan, Maritza says of her father. Thomas always prided himself in preparation. Former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas, who made a career out of stonewalling running backs with thunderous hits, made the loudest noise of all Thursday night by being named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So he told me he was going to bench me, or whatever. The problem is Thomas sustained multiple serious concussions that year. But that simply wasnt possible. Both of them stand 5-foot-11, and both of them know what its like to be underrated. For a while Jason Taylor & Zach Thomas were the beating heart of the Dolphins D. Taylor was enshrined in Canton in 2017. Thats humbling, Thomas said. I had to do it off premises, saying good-bye. They played 18 games against one another when the Jets and Dolphins played. Zach has all the history with the guy going from a 5th* round pick by Jimmy to 2 time 1st team All-pro selection before Jimmy Retired beginning of 99 Yes, life has changed for Thomas since he stopped playing in 2009. Thomas, who narrowly missed making the cut in 2020, becomes the 11th man whose career is primarily associated with the Dolphins to make the Hall. You might say theyre a team of hope. As we can see they both forced a fairly even number of turnovers or turnover opportunities all told. After Saban left, the Dolphins hired Cam Cameron as their next coach. I didnt know anything about football, Maritza says. Recognised by his direct opponents. I got a laugh out of Bill Belichick, Thomas says. Masons uncle, Zach Thomas, was a standout linebacker for 13 seasons with 3 teams, being named to 7 Pro Bowls of his own. The Dolphins that year were 9-7 and did not make the playoffs. So before the play, I see this and Peyton is calling signals, and I yell, Lead draw! Thomas says. Thats a momentous departure from the time Thomas sometimes refers to as crazy or wild a span of 13 NFL seasons he spent as perhaps the most adored Miami Dolphins player of the day. Here are the 17 linebackers drafted ahead of Hall of Famer Zach Thomas in 1996, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Maritza is listening to these stories with a smile. It is also a podcast that features interviews with both current and former NFL stars and you can listen via Spreaker and Apple Podcasts. Born Zachary Michael This is Zach Thomas life now. Or he was my favorite player. . Anything Zach does, hes going all the way, Maritza says. Does Zach Thomas belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Together, they formed the heart and soul of the Dolphins defense from 1996-2007. And I said, Oh, really? And after retiring from football, we had Christian, we built this house. Zach was there with offensive tackle Todd Wade. Teammates marveled at how many hours Thomas would spend each week studying film, searchingfor even the slightest edge over the upcoming opponent. But when Taylors choice was announced a few months back, it left more than a few wondering why he didnt pick Zach Thomas his former brother-in-law, close Thats different than some recent Dolphins teams, including the ones who produced good moments and the ones that disappointed. Katina Thomas-Taylor sued him in 2017 because she claimed he fell short on his promise by $3.4 million. Former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas has been on the doorstep of the Pro Football Hall of Fame a couple of times but still hasnt gotten in. Saban eventually brought Thomas into his office and the two made peace. The Bears that year were 11-5. In NO way. Its important, Thomas says as he makes sure Sienna doesnt fall off a table. So much that Thomas says, I made pressure my friend.. Opponent and team-mate are in agreement and that theme of being overlooked is there again. Yet Zach Thomas had a much more productive career in terms of tackles per game. But all that enjoyment didnt exactly bloom early in their relationship. Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached athhabib@pbpost.com and followed on Twitter@gunnerhal. He was trying to get into my head and it fired me up, Thomas says. This story was originally published January 24, 2020, 12:09 PM. Taylor & Thomas. Thomas was bummed, as he usually was after a loss. He played against the New England Patriots on October 21, 2007, and, yes, the Dolphins lost. I look up and I could tell Peyton was wondering howd you know? , Peyton was the best in the business. And they just beat us at home, Thomas laments. Bill Parcells took the reins of the team, along with head coach Tony Sparano and general manager Jeff Ireland. It was definitely a chess match. And I said, No disrespect, but there are so many other guys who have already gone home. 53 instead, which in New England belonged to former teammate and roommate Larry Izzo. He and Zach had significant cultural differences because Lozanos first home in the United States was in Queens, New York, and he was a New York Jets fan. That is the extent of the numbers the Dolphins have have taken out of use, officially. Saying that would make me feel Im being ungrateful. When I look at back to being an 8-year-old kid starting football, I had big dreams and for it to play out like it has, Im grateful. Those children, his marriage, are his job. The conversation got far enough along that Belichick told Thomas he probably wouldnt be able to take Tedy Bruschis jersey number 54, the one Thomas wore in Miami. I dont know what else they wanted. When he regained consciousness, Thomas wanted to keep playing as it was before the NFLs concussion protocol rules. Urlacher put in 315 assists on tackles (1.73 per game), Thomas had 627 career assists (3.4 per game). For I am truly honored and humbled to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Thomas said. And on the first play of the first inside drill of 2009 training camp, Thomas blew up the lead fullback and sustained another concussion and he could not practice or play. Thomas had not received much attention as a free agent before that visit. It wasnt until months later when they ran into each other again in Fort Lauderdale that they clicked. WebThere are a number of guys waiting to get in, so, he may not be a first ballot in 2017 due to the HoF back log of competition, but he will surely make it within the following year or 1 on that list., He made everybody that played with him better. I could never have accomplished this without your love and support. Image from miamidolphins.com, Your email address will not be published. Those five games I played that year were probably the best five games I put together, Thomas says. And I felt like they mishandled that part. He is adamant that Zach Thomas should be in the hall as well, as are most of Thomas former teammates. She graduated Nova Southeastern University with a doctorate in Pharmacy degree but she never was a huge football fan, especially not in 2003 when she and Thomas met. Together, the duo shared a lot of love and an even bigger ego. Thomas played only five games in that wasteland of a season. I met with Belichick. Yes, Zach got on one knee. Zach Thomas was not much of a self-promoter. Hes one of those guys that never got the respect he deserved, never got the attention he deserves. And Im a veteran, Im not part of their future. Here are the 17 linebackers drafted ahead of Hall of Famer Zach Thomas in 1996. The defensive duo combined for 13 Pro Bowl selections during their He was a 2016 APSE Top 3 columnist nationwide. And while coaches prepared their defense by showing players clips of the opponents previous three games, Thomas would spend time alone going back years. Zach Thomas was my nemesis, Mawae said 22:16 into his 27-minute Hall of Fame speech. Were eating and Nick asks me what I think of Kevin, Thomas says. I knew right then I was going to have issues when the symptoms kicked in.. Former Jets center Kevin Mawae took time during his Hall acceptance speech to say the one opponent who isnt in the Hall but needed to be was Thomas. A lot of Hall of Fame voting can come down to statistics. It was indeed a dream come true. Im the leader of this defense, man., Im good with being called out, thats fine. When he arrived in Davie, Thomas goal was to make the roster through special teams. With Thomas leading the way with major contributions from Taylor obviously the Dolphins defense finished in the top 10 in fewest yards allowed an So he wanted to trade me. Does he belong? shouldnt even be a question, the Miami Dolphins great deserves to be in, of that I am in no doubt. But that motivated me even more than usual, the Dolphins trying to get rid of me, thinking I couldnt play in that defense. The pressure now is getting Christian to his soccer practice and games on time. The Dolphins already had veteran Jack Del Rio. Zach Thomas is holding his wife Maritzas hand as they sit in the gazebo by their pool. Should that reflect on Thomas? Perhaps Urlacher was better at forcing turnovers? NO. And Im going to be here when you get here to work and Im going to be here when you leave. 2021 Ninety-Nine Yards: American Football, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Why Zach Thomas belongs in the Hall of Fame. But Katina sees a correlation between Isaiah and her brother, Zach Thomas. Required fields are marked *. Just couldnt do it. But it worked out.. I love my Dolphins and you cant control what coaches want to do to turn a team around, but I thought it was mishandled.. To where? And they told me it was to Green Bay. It represents all the great teammates I had. I was on the passenger side and I was talking to my brother on the phone and I didnt know if the phone hit me in the head or it was the headrest that felt so hard.. But the Hall of Famer whom Thomas will forever be most associated with is defensive end Jason Taylor. Thomas knew he had another concussion. The somber thoughts often drifted into Jason Taylor's mind as he friend and brother-in-law Zach Thomas. The Saints soon wanted Thomas, and in retrospect Thomas admits not going there is one of my few regrets.. I dont look the part. It was all just for motivation.. And even months later when they called to bring him back, Thomas was still not recovered. | NFL Draft 2023, Top 5 Quarterback Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Top 5 Tight Ends Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Top 5 Safety Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Top 5 Cornerback Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Top 5 Linebacker Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Top 5 OT Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Top 5 IOL Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Free Agency Highlights & Your Draft Questions Answered.
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